The catalytic conversion of low chain length hydrocarbons to liquid fuels using ion exchange resin
Master Thesis
1984
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University of Cape Town
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Abstract
The use of ion exchange resins in the polymerization of a c 4 -mixture to liquid fuels has shown that the catalyst is highly active, deactivates at a slow rate and selectively produces mainly dimers. Macropore diffusion resistance strongly influences the overall rate of the reaction. An increase in liquid production rate is obtained with increasing macroporosity, increasing degree of functionalization and decreasing catalyst bead size. A minimum acid strength of pKA = -2.4 is required. The liquid production rate is increased by increasing the reaction temperature and weight hourly space velocity. Moreover, longer chain length product are obtained with increasing reaction temperature and at reaction conditions, which result in the complete conversion of monomers. Recycling liquid product reduces the liquid production and increases the production of trimer at the expense of dimer. At moderate reaction temperatures ion exchange resins are regenerable but the activity of the catalyst is destroyed at reaction temperatures greater than approximately 130°C. Deactivation occurs parallel to the main reaction and is due to cationic fouling. The liquid product obtained is highly branched. The R.O.N. of the -180°C fraction is approximately 97 and the cetane number of the +180°C fraction approximately 35.
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Schumann, W. 1984. The catalytic conversion of low chain length hydrocarbons to liquid fuels using ion exchange resin. University of Cape Town.